I always have dreamed of bringing those I love with me to
see this place called Haiti that has a huge piece of my heart.
This year I got to fulfill part of that dream, bringing 5 of
my good friends to Haiti with me.
In August of 2011 I decided that I would try and get a team
together to go and then find an organization that would take us. It just so
happened that all 5 of my roommates (one honorary roommate) and a friend from
my town would all agree to join me on a medical adventure to Haiti.
In my trip to Haiti in May of 2010 I was sitting around at
the hotel when this lady came and sat beside me and we started chatting. She
told me she was from Hands up from Haiti and told me her story. So I sent an email in early August
asking about going on a trip and that’s when our adventure started. Jill who is
one of the founders of Hands up for Haiti decided to head up our trip.
After many many emails, skype dates, fundraisers, meetings,
teaching plans we were headed to Haiti. It was hard to believe that the day had
finally come, after planning for 10 months and trying to prepare the girls as
best as I could we were on a plane.
Our adventure started May 5th at 2:30 am in the
morning, most of the girls couldn’t sleep they were beaming with excitement and
a tinge of nervousness for what was to come. We met up with our team in Newark,
NJ and it was so nice to finally meet them and put names to face after just knowing
them mostly through email.
When our plane touched down all I could do was smile, smile
because I was back, with some of my best friends, to a place I call my second
home.
Throughout the day of flying and arriving in Haiti I just
sat back and watched the girls and their reactions and emotions as they
experienced everything for the first time. It was so nice to experience Haiti again through the
reactions of first timers! The sounds, the people, the smell, the mountains,
the busyness of everyday life, the
beauty, the hardships, the language.
I am so happy to say that I have 6 new fellow Haiti lovers!
6 new people with a passion and heart for the little island that so many people
know so little about. Friends with burning desire to take what they saw and
learned and make a difference! 6
new people to help spread the word to others and spread awareness to those
around us.
I am also so happy to have met and worked with the rest of
our crew from New York area. We were joined by 4 nurses, 2 pediatricians and a
computer geniusJ
These people all have a HUGE heart for the people of Haiti and do amazing
work!! They are all such an inspiration to me and fuel my passion more to help
the people of Haiti. Thank you for all your hard work in helping make this trip
so memorable and life changing for all. Thank you for all you do to help the
Haitian people, your dedication is admirable. I am so excited to continue to
work with your organization and for our next trip!
One day I hope to bring some of my family and more of my
friends to Haiti, to see why I talk so much about this place that’s only a mere
6 hours away. It’s a place that’s
hard to understand until you experience it for yourself. Until then I will continue to share my
stories and love of this country and it’s people.
